The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-04-06
TIE BLACK PRINCE.
John Alexander, the Leading Negro Gambler OF
the United States.

uOOf uU whitney opera housoi Se"i'S
absently at n three.sheet poster on
the stand in front OF the theater. lie
formed altogether a remarkable p!ct-
ure, and one that was duplicated up.
on the bill board. A closely clipped
beard covered his face. Amagniiicent
sealskin overcoat, reaching nearly to
the heels, was carelessly thrown open
in front. The diamonds that bla2ed
from his shirt bosom and fingers were
as large as the eyes OF the street gam
ms who stood gaping at the man in
the doorway. The man, too, had eyes
piercing and restless. He wore a silk
hat and carried a gold-headed cane.
Two men passed by the theater
"Say, look at that overCoatH' said
one. "AIinstrels here this week."
YES" repliNd the other
"That fellow N the star OF the COM
pany, mebbe."
"No, he's the manager. The COM
pany is not q colorcd one"
"Please give me this with discretion.
Colored man run II minstrel show?
Amt that q little strong?"
D "Maybe, but it is fact. His name
is Alexander-John Alexander-one
OF the best known and ceverest men
in his line IN America. Some call him
Alexander the Great, others the
Black Prince. Call him what you
will. he is n bright man just the same"
"Theatrical manY'
Gambler mainly, theatrical some
what"
Mr.. Alexander was found behind the
scenes at Whitney's in the evening.
He was smoking fragrant Favored
cigar right in the face OF the yellow
card on the wall that prohibited the
use OF tobacco on the stage.
How did l become n gamblers"
laughed Mr.. Alexander. "Why, my
boy, was born one. Now you might
like to know just where | was born.
Well, came to life fifteen miles be-
low Cincinnati, on President William
Henry Harrisons plantation. fused
to match pennies with the Harrison
youngsters, and there first discovered
my fortune in risks. Later on | be-
came q cabin boy on New Orleans
packet steamer. Everybody CANDLES
on Mississippi river boats. | was no
exception. My good fortune contin.
ued, and when we reached Cincinnati
on one OF our trips found | had $50
clear. left the river and started a
small gambling room for the benefit OF
people OF my own race. was getting
along finely until one day a man came
in and broke the bank, which meant
5000 to me. Then | bushwhacked
about the country for n time in q
rather impecunious condition. When
could earn o dollar / played the
bank. Sometimes had hundreds and
occasionally thousands, and lost it all
the next day.
zone night / cleaned up 81, 700 in a
Cincinnati bank. l went to Columbus
and determined to open an establish
ment Tor myself, A crowd followed
me up from Cincinnati TO break me-
| got 81 900 from n Cincinnati friend,
now Detroit sporting man, to help
me out. We had it hot and heavy,
but / came out $4,000 winner latter
waros started second bank in Co.
lumbus, and both are running now
"How do you play"
"Only big limits-Sl0O, 5000, or
$500 to call card. Detroit banks
pay S25 limits, but it is mere tomiool-
cry to play such game. have al
ways made il u principle TO break OF
break-that is, to Ilean out the bank
or myself. That's the only true way
to gamble. My advice to any one
who engages in it is to stop forever
the minute he makes n decent pile
Have ever broken banks2 Only
one or two-hundred. have played
the highest game ever performed in
this country call. card faro for 81 900
q crack. Remember this was not n
combination arrangement. | simply
played my money alone. My largest
cleanings have been in Saratoga, Long
Branch and Chicago. In Saratoga u
few years ago | broke q bank for $50.
600. That was the largest bank |
ever broke, though have made more
money than that at one sitting"
"What do you think OF the career OF
a gambler"
Nine out o. ten die poor men. |
have known OF few who stopped play
ing when they had something, but the
rule is the reverse. The fascination
is something indescribable. There is
no use in O man gambling in light
games. The principle is to make or
lose. Have | superstitions: None.
have made enough money without
them. The only thing that induced
me to enter the theatrical business
was that | might divert my attention
from the gambling table. am using
~. !. ..,i.ntr,ln o.,l.. n 9 an n,.,,nri.n.ntnL